Method and apparatus for drilling oil wells



2 Sheets-Sheet l D. DANA ET Al.`

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING OIL WELLS Filed July 5, 1952 March 7,1933.

March 7, 1933. D DANA ET Al.

METHOD AND APPARTUS FOR DRILLING OIL WELLS Filed Ju1y 5, 1932 A fron/m'.

*1931, which has as its primary object the re- Patented Mar. 7, 1933UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE DREXLER DANA, OF SANTA BARBARA, AND FRANKMORGAN, 0F BEVERLY HILLS,-

CALIFORNIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLINGOIL WELLS Application ledJuly 5,

This'invention has todo in a general way with the art of drillingWella/and is more particularly related to the improvements in themethodand ap'paratus in our copending application, Serial No. 534,481,filed May 2,

duction of oil well drilling expenses. As is pointed out in ourcopending application, this invention is especially adapted for use indrilling oil wells .over water where the foundation and derricli:`structure are extremely Costly as compared to the actual expenses otdrilling the bore hole. It is to be understood, however, that the methodand apparatus contemplated by this invention may be used with equalfacilityin land drilling operations. Y

' Like the invention of our former application, it is a primary objectofr this invention to produce a method and apparatus for drilling aplurality of bore holes or wells from a `single derrick structure. Inthe method contemplatedby our former application, this wasaccomplished'by drilling a large diame- .'er bore hole'ofcomparativelyshallow depth,

and from-the bottom of this bore hole drill-- ing a plurality ofangularly -disposed small diameter bore holes; The apparatuscontemplated by our former application consisted in a general way of aconductor casing adapted to be lowered into the large diameter borehole, such casing having a plurality of radi- A ally disposed partitionstherein and having a bit deflecting shoe at its lower end.

In the development lof this invention We have found it to be extremelyimportant that each small diameter hole be started and Y guided so aslto avoid intersection with the established or prospective path of anyother bore hole which ,is drilled prior to or which is to be drilledsubsequent to-the hole in question.

It is therefore a'primaryobjectof this invention to produce a method ofthe class described whereby the possible interference or intersection ofbore holes 'is positively avoided. We prefer to accomplish this by`starting the individual small diameter bore holes at Varlous elevatlonsinthe large diam# eter borehole. l

ltor by means of which one ormore of the 1932. Serial N'o. 620,826.

It accordingly becomes a further object of this invention to produce anovel type of apvholes be drilled at an angle with respect to the largediameter borehole. -It therefore `becomes a further object of thisinvention to produce a bore hole dividerand bit .direcsmall holes can bedrilled from various elevations and at a predetermined angle or atpredetermined angles with the axis of the main hole, and in which one ormore of the small diameter bore holes can be drilled vertically from thebottom ofthe large diameter bore hole. In this connection our inventioncontemplates a4 novel type of guide shoe mounted on the bottom of thedirector member which is of a frangible character so as to permit thepassage of a drillv bit therethrough.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a directing memberwhich may be easily handled and installed. For accoml.-l 80 plishingthis we prefer tov secure to the lower end portion of the directingmember, a cable on the surface. In this manner the divider B5 can bestopped at any time for attachment or installation of new sections toaccommo- Idalte/ any depth in the large diameter-bore o e. Y

The lcable just referred tov may be secured to the lower endot1 thedivider by some suitable releasable means, but we prefer to rigidlysecure the lower. end of the cable. When the divider has reachedtheproper position, the cable is cut at the upper end of the bore holeand falls into the compartment of the divider in 'which'its lower end issecured.

In order that the cable may not interfere with drillingoperations, weprefer to secure it in -a compartment which contains a delectm0 l ingmember so that the cable falls to the bot4 shown as being mounted withits floor 12 on tom of the compartment below the deflecting shale orother formation indicated by refmember and will thereby not interferewith erence numeral 13. the drilling of the small diameter bore hole 1nproceeding' with the method contem- 5 subsequently to be drilled withinthat com plated by this invention, a large diameter partment. bore hole,indicated by reference numeral 14, Y

tIt -sometimes occurs in the drilling of wells is irst drilled below thederrick structure to of this character that the bit becomes lodged anysuitable depth. A large diameter conand the drill stem twists off in amanner such ductor pipe is then set or cemented inthis lothat it cannotbe removed. In order that a bore hole and a second large diameter bore75 new well may be started when this occurs in hole 14 is drilledthrough and to a substan-v the'drilling operations contemplated by thistial distance below the conductor pipe 15. invention, we have devised a'novel type of divider or partitioning member generally indelecting shoewhich is adapted to be lowered dicated by reference numeral 16 is thenlow- 15 into the divider and to rest on a suitable vered through theconductor pipe l5 and into foundation of concrete or cement which is thebore hole 14 by means of a cable 17 which pumped into the compartment inthe usual has its lower endportion secured to the bot* manner. This typeof shoe has a decided adtom of the' divider or partitioning -member 16vanta-ge over an ordinary type of whip stock and is shown as extendingover a pulley 18 at 20 in that it has flat faces corresponding to thethe top of the derrick to a drum at 19 whereby sides of the compartmentin which it is rethe movement of' the cable and the conseceived so thatit is held against rotationzthus quent movement of the partitioningmember directing the bit over its new course in a preor divider iscontrolled. y determined direction. It will be understood that thepartitioning The details in the method and ,apparatus member or divider,certain preferred forms 90 contemplated by this invention will be bestof which will be hereinafter more completely understood 'from thefollowing description of described, is of a nature such that additionalthe accompanying drawings which are chosen` sections may be addedthereto from time to "for illustrative purposes oniy and in whichtime asthe unit enters the bore hole. In mak Fig. 1 is an elevational viewpartly in sec# ing Slloh addtOIlS the drum 19 iS Stopped 95 tion showinga derrick structure and illusby means 0f a Suitable brake, 110i', ShOWl,and trating the manner in which e divider of the an additional sectionis added to the partitype contemplated by this invention is inv tioning,member or divider. This procedure stalled therein; is followed until theguide shoe 20 of the par- E Fig. 2 is anelevational view similar to Fig.titiolling memberhaS reached the bOttOm 0f 100 1 showing the divider eshaving been inthe bore hole 14. lvWhen this position has stalled, andillustrating the manner in which been reached the cable 17 is cut at apoint near I the small diameter .bore holes are started into the tol) ofthe dil/'idol' ond the loWI Portion the formation; of the-cable dropsinto the bore hole and as- 40 Fi .3 is en elevational view showin onesumes a position as indicated at 17 in Fio. 2. 105

g g e form of divider contemplated by this inven.. Reference numerals 22and 22 indicate bit tion; f deiecting members which are mounted at Fig.4 is eplen section taken in the plane different elevations in.compartments 23\ and represented by the line 4-4 in Fig, 3; 23 of thedivider orrpartitioning member.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a preferred Those blt 'doootmg membersmay bobom' 110 form ofour invention w ich is similar in a poseo of'metal 01' other 'Woof-resistant mgeneral Way to the form Shown inFiggbut terial and are so arranged as to direct a small has certainstructural advantages thereov'er;' 'dlomoto dllu. blt from iboCorresponding Fig 6 1S a plan Section taken in plane compartments intothe formation/ compris-v i.' represented by the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; ling the wall of the bore hole 14. In this con? 115 Fig. 7 is anelevational vi W Showing a,v 'ne'ction it is to be understood that apart or modified form of our inventiolit; a 11,'of bbo oompoltmobtsformed by the 'Por' Fig. 8 is a plan section which may b e conblblollngmembol' may be Provided With bit Sidered as having been taken in a,plane repre, deflectors Of thls nature. is not essential" 56 sented bythe line 8,-:3 in Fig, 7; however, that all of the compartments be so120 Fig. 9 isn plan view showing e speeing constructed, .but it isimportant that the low# member which may be used in connection with vo1' end 0f the Cable 17 be Secured 'in a comparto the divider of thetype shown in Fig.` 7 ando mont Which has "o 'Partitioning member- Fig.10. is a per `ective view illustratmg a mounted therein ata substantialdistance 60 preferred form o auxiliary bit deflecting above itslowerend. This construction-:E125A shoe of the type contemplated by thisinvenfollowed to permit the cable'to fall to theloyvd y tion. er end of'such compartment so asnot to'inf'- More particularly describing theinventerfere with the drilling operation as was tion as hereinillustrated, reference numeral pointed olft above.

11 indicates a derriek structure which is- After the partitioning memberhas been 13.0

lowered to the bottom of the hole 14', wepre- Ifer to lock the dividerin the bore hole by running tubing into one ormore of the compartmentsand 'pumping ycement through .such tubing to fill the entire hole or'one or more compartments thereof from the bottom upward to a pointdetermined by. the local conditions encountered, such cement or concretebeing indicated at 24 and 24. The tubing thus employedis of coursewithdrawn immediately after the .cementing operation.

Itis to be understood that the bit delecting members are preferablyformed or shaped so i. as to 'permit the passage of a tube for pumpingconcrete into the bottom of the hole and it is preferable to fill thecompartments to a point abovethe bit delecting members. This may beacomplished by calculating the volume of the compartment below thedesired level and pumping such volume into the well. It is to beunderstood, however, that concrete is of a frangible. nature which iseasily drilled so that no particular harm isdone if it comes `to a pointwell above the bit delectng memoers.

After the cement has hardened,the process of drilling the small diameterbore holes will be, in each case, the same as that currently employed indrilling a single well beneath a derrick, except that the rotary tableand part of the other drilling equipment mu'st be moved to center overeach compartment successively. Furthermore the operation of the drillmust be carefully regulated by modern drilling methods and apparatus sothat vthe drill bit follows its predetermined course.

Reference numerals 26 and 27 indicate angular bore holes formed by theprocess outlined above. It will be understood that in fthe event thepartitioning member is provided with four compartments, four such de'-Iiecting 'bore holes may be formed or one or more of the compartmentsmay be left open so that the bit passes vertically downwardtherethrough, passing through' the frangible shoe 20 and forming avertical well or bore hole of the type indicated by reference nu-I meral28. d

In Fig. 3, we show one form of the divider 'ur director unit of the typecontemplated by this invention. This unit is own as being madeup ofllongitudinal pla e members 30, 31, 32 and 33 which intersect so as toform a unit which'is substantially cross-shaped in ross section. Platesof this nature are pref-l erably welded along the line of intersection,and it will be observed that -theycooperate to l form four compartmentsor chambers 35, 36,) 37 and 38.` In this form of.our invention we howtwo of the chambers 37 and 38 as being. provided with downwardly andoutwardly inclined bit deflecting members 39 and 40 respectively. It isto be understood that such divider or director unit may be designed soas to form any plural number of compartwhich specify a four-way dividerare for purposes of illustration only. The ilower end of the unit formedby the plates is se- Additional guide members may be placed on theplates throughout the length of the unit. In order that the cement whichis pumped into the'compartments may completely lill the bore hole so asto form a more secureanchorage, the 4plates may be provided withopenings as indicated reference numerals 42 and 42. The cable in thisform of our invention is shownas being secured ina suitable pocket 43`which is positioned at the extreme lower end of the plate 'section' 37so that the cable when cut will fall into this compartment and willarrange itself below the deflecting member 39..

The preferred form of our invention shown in Figs. 5'and 6 is similar inits general construction to the form just described. This last mentionedconstruction, however, has certain advantages in ease of handling andfabrication. This divider or directing.v unit is made up of four channelmembers indicated by referencenumerals 45, 46,47 and 48.

The channel members are arranged with their `ments within thel initialbore hole and the Y figures and descriptions here presented 'edges alonga common axis and have their flanges secured to adjacent channel membersby means of rivets or other suitable at- `tachingmeans indicated byreference numeral 49. 'The outer flanges on the channel act as guides toprevent-the members dig ing into the formation and the lower ends o thebottom channels are secured to a" frangible guide shoe indicated byreference numeral 50.

compartments are indicated by reference numerals 51, 52, 53 and 54, weshow three of the compartments, 52, 53'and 54 as being provided with bitdeiecting members 55 which,

. as pointedbut above, are arranged at different elevations throughoutthe height of the unit.

The -cable 17 is shown as being secured in a .socket member 43 at thelower end of the unit.

A reference numeral 60 indicates an eye which isshown as being securedto the upper. end of one of the-channel members and is adapted for uselin handling the unit in the of the eye 60. Under these circumstancesthe ,105.' In this lform of our inventio'n in which the i upper ends ofthe channels are preferably ofl'- v set as shown in Fig. 5 and as onechannel is added thereto, an eye is placedton the upper end of thischannel and the fweight of the unitis transferred to the upper eye, thelower lily one being removed. While fabricating any of the proposeddivider or director units in this way the completed portion, which isairea-dy in the hole, may be conveniently supof iron rods passingthrough holes 60 in the plates..

, ln the form of our invention shown in lTig. '7, we show the divider asbeing made upof a plurality of small diameter pipes indicated byreference numerals 61, 61 and 62, 62. yThese pipes have their lower endssecuredto a suitable basal ring 63 which in turn is secured to afrangible guide shoe 64. The cable 17 in this form of our invention isshown as being secured in a suitable socket 65 provided in the guideshoe 64.

For the purpose of holding the pipes in predetermined spaced relationwith each 4' ther, we prefer to provide, from time to time, alongtheunit spacing plates, one of which is indicated by reference numeral 66.-@ne form of such plate is shown in Fig. 9 where it is illustrated asbeing provided with a hole 67 to admit the passage oi the cable 17 and anotch 68 to facilitate the installation of the plate over the cable. Inthis form of our invention the pipes 62, 62 and 61 are shown as beingprovided with bit deecting .nembers and pipe 61 is open to permit thedrilling of a vertical small diameter bore hole from this' pipe. The bitdeiiecting units in this Jform-of our invention are preferably formed bycutting 'longitudinal openings 70 in the pipe in of metal extendingupwardly from the line of attachment. These tongues are indicated byreference numeral 71 and are bent inwardly so as to form a bitdeflecting surraee.

ln Fig. 10 we show another form of bit deiecting unit which, as pointedout above,

.is adapted for use in connection with a divider or. partitioning memberof the type shown in either Fig. 3 or Fig. 5. This unit is made in theform of a block 71 which has two fiat side faces 72 and 7 2f adapted toengage against the which define one of the segmental compartments inthe-divider.Y rEhe top surface of this block is inclined downwardly andoutwardly as indicated at 7 3 so as to'dciiect the bit into f theformation. `lln using the blockythe compartment in which it is to beused, is irst filled with concrete ifo the desired level. The block isthen dropped into the compartment through which it falls onto the top ofthe concrete where it may be rigidly fixed by the further introductionof concrete. The bit may then be advanced into the compartment and willbe deflected into the formation at an angle which is determined bytheinclination of the surface 73.

1t is to be understood that, while we'have' 6.5 herein described andillustrated certain preported at the'derrick iioor through the usel sucha manner to leave tonguesangularly disposed plates\ medias the theferred forms of apparatus for practicing method contemplated by thisinvention, invention is not limited to the precise structure describedabove, but includes within its scope whatever changes fairly come withinthe spirit of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. A well drilling method which comprises: drilling a large diameterbore hole; partitioning said hole to Aform a plurality of longitudinalchambers; and drilling small diameter bore holes at diEerent elevationsfrom said chambers.

2. A well drilling method which comprises: drilling a large diameterbore hole;

partitioning said hole to forma plurality of longitudinal chambers; anddrilling small diameter bore holes from said chambers at differentelevations and in angularly disposed relation with each other.

3. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; longitudinal partitioning means secured to saidguide shoe and adapted to form a plurality of 'drilling compartments ina bore hole; and drill bit deflectors in some of said compartments.

4. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; longitudinal partitioning means secured to saidguide shoe and adapted to form arranged in vertically spaced relationwith each other.

5. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a r'angiblc guide shoe; longitudinal partitioning meanssecured to said guide shoe and adapted to form a plurality of drillingcompartments-in a bore hole; and drill bit deflectors in some of saidcompartments.

6. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; lon ltudinal partitioning means se curedto'said guide shoe and adapted to form a plurality of drillingcompartments. in a bore hole; and drill bit delectors in some of saidcompartments, and iexible supporting means secured to the lower end ofsaid divider.

7. For use in drilling bore holes ofthe jclass described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; longitudinal partitioning means comprising aplurality of angularly disposed and interconnected plate members securedto said described, a divider embodying: a guide)v shoe; a plurality ofupwardly extending small diameter vbit guiding pipes secured at theirlower ends-to said shoe, some of said -pipes having openings in theirouter walls;

and bit deflecting means in said pipes below said openings.

9. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; a pluralityof upwardly extending small diameterbit guiding pipes secured at their lower ends to said shoe, some of saidpipes having openings in their outer walls and bit defiecting means insaid pipes at said openings, the openings in the respective pipes beingin vertically spac d relation with each other. j

10. For use in dri ing bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a guide shoe; a plurality of upwardly extending smalldiameter bit guiding pipes secured at their lower ends to said shoe,some of said pipes having openings in their outer walls; bit deflectingmeans in said pipes at said openings; and a iiexible member secured tosaid gulde lslhclie for .lowering said divider into a bore 11. For usein drilling bore holes of the class described, a divider embodying: `aplurality of elongated platemembers secured together at their edges soas-to form a unit of cross-shaped cross section; guide means at thelower end of said unit; and vertically spaced bit deflectors mounted inthevspaces between some of said plates.

12. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a plurality of elongated channels having theirvsideA flangessecured together along a common line to form a unit of cross-shapedcross section; guide means, atthe lower end of said unit; and verticallyspaced bit deflectors mounted in the spaces between some of said plates.l

13. For use in drilling bore holes of the class described, a dividerembodying: a .plurality of elongated plate members secured together attheir edges so as to form a unit of cross-shaped cross section; guidemeans at the lower end of said unit; vertically spaced bit delectorsmounted in the spaces between some of said plates; and a flexible membersecured in one of said spaces a substa-ntial distance below thedeflector therein for vuse in lowering said unit into a bore hole.

14. For use'in drilling bore holes of the class described,.a dividerembodying: a plurality of elongated plate members secured together attheir edges so as to form a unit of cross-shaped cross section; a cementguide shoe secured to the lower end of said unit.; and

' vertically spaced bit deiiectors mounted in the spaces between some ofsaid plates.

155v For use lin combination with a' divider y of the class describedwhich comprises a. plu- "rality of plate members disposed in angularrelation with each-other, a deiiector embodying a block having two sidefaces adaptedto engage platesy in said divider, and having'a downwardlyand outwardly'inclined bit de-vr les

